Washington (CNN) – Americans views on the state of the nation are turning increasingly sour, according to a new national poll.

And a CNN/ORC International survey released Friday also indicates that less than a quarter of the public says that economic conditions are improving, while nearly four in ten say the nation's economy is getting worse.
Forty-one percent of those questioned in the poll say things are going well in the country today, down nine percentage points from April, and the lowest that number has been in CNN polling since February 2012. Fifty-nine percent say things are going badly, up nine points from April.

Besides an obvious partisan divide, which contributes to a urban-rural gap, the survey also indicates a difference of opinion between younger and older Americans.

"There's a slight generational divide, with 46% of those under age 50 saying things are going well. That number drops to 36% for those 50 and older," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

Looking specifically at the economy, 39% feel that the economy is still in a downturn, up six points from April. Only 24% believe that an economic recovery is under way. Thirty-six percent are in the middle - they don't think we're in a recovery but they believe conditions have stabilized.

Again, the survey indicates partisan and geographic divides, as well as a generational gap, with 45% of those age 50 and older, but only 34% of those under age 50 saying the economy's still in a downturn.

The poll was conducted November 18-20 for CNN by ORC International, with 843 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

soundoff(196 Responses)

The middle class in our country our working their lives away to support people who can't or won't work. The middle class are working for the rich, who are never happy unless they are getting richer, at middle class expense. The greedy rich, and the politicians work hand in hand to rig the game to ensure middle class slavery. Our country needs to rid itself of the rich, and the lazy by having a middle class president, congress, etc. who make the rules/laws that ensure middle class prosperity.

November 29, 2013 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

Thomas

Rick Perry will make Mexico Great Again !

November 29, 2013 11:11 am at 11:11 am |

Alan

Can you imagine if President Bush was in office for 5 years and the entire time unemployment stayed as high as it was when he entered office? And don't forget, President Bush inherited the Worse Recession since the Depression and a nation under attack. President Bush kept us safe for 8 years and lowered unemployment to less than 5% for many years until the Democrats took control of the Senate and House in Jan 2007 and implemented "Carter like" policies with the Budget that began Oct 1st 2007 – within. 6 months the economy collapsed.
If Obama wanted to lower unemployment to less than 5% and gasoline to less than $2 / gallon – he should simply do what was done in 2003. It worked then, and it would work now.

November 29, 2013 11:13 am at 11:13 am |

A True Conservative

Wow! I don't see the usual Obama apologists here defending him.....could it be even they have run out of excuses....?

November 29, 2013 11:13 am at 11:13 am |

Skeptical

The booming stock market begs to differ.

November 29, 2013 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

corpsman

These are just cheap shots at the President. The Dow is at record levels, unemployment has been falling for over two years and consumer spending is up. Conservatives could say they believe the earth is flat too, but it wouldn't make it so.

November 29, 2013 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

are122

politicians work hand in hand to rig the game to ensure middle class slavery? No, that's stupidity. You think there's some kind of wall preventing middle class or anyone else from getting rich??

And it shows the picture of a wall street boy and gives you the headline it does...real stupid...and you can thank a lib for the messed country from top to bottom...

November 29, 2013 11:25 am at 11:25 am |

Jeff

The unemployment hasn't stayed at the same level for Obama's 5 years; it's slowly gone down. If the Republicans in Congress had passed the legislation Obama wanted thing would be better. Business' profits are at an all time high, as is the stock market. The wealthy have done quite well under Obama. The poor and the middle class – not so much.

November 29, 2013 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

Willers

I continue to be astounded by the dishonesty of Republicans who post here. They've done everything possible to ruin America through the Bush years and by obstructionism and deceit through the Obama administration. Now they claim, "put us back in power and everything will be alright again." They were liars from 2000-2008 and they are even bigger liars in 2013. Their desired greed-filled and hate-filled oligarchy just isn't going to happen.

November 29, 2013 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

Edwin

@True Conservative: what a load of cr@p! I will not defend Obama, but every analyst predicted that the sequester would cause another economic slowdown. Put any spin on it you want, but the truth is that this is not due to Obama – it is due to the mistaken belief that gutting spending will cause growth. I know, it sounds bizarre when you say it out loud: conservatives claim that the best choice for growth is to actually cut the programs that help build infrastructure, education, and long-term growth.

Personally I think they know better and simply want the country to suffer. That way the will get more votes, after all – the better to promote their anti-progressive agenda. But I cannot prove they know – they may just be lacking in basic intelligence (unlike name callers, I do not claim conservatives are m0rons – I actually believe they are doing the damage deliberately).

November 29, 2013 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

The REAL TRUTH...

@Alan – Can you imagine if President Bush was in office for 5 years and the entire time unemployment stayed as high as it was when he entered office? And don't forget, President Bush inherited the Worse Recession since the Depression and a nation under attack.
------------------------
Except he didn't inherit a Recession or a Nation under attack. He inherited a budget surplus and blew that. And, there was one big difference Alan... Dubya didn't have the Dems blocking. filibustering and adding unacceptable riders to every piece of legislation or any program he offered (NDAA, Patriot Act, NSA....).. did he? Difficult to get anything done when one offers compromise – which Obama has done countless times – only to be refused (countless times) by the GOP leadership.. who then point fingers are Reid for not entertaining any of their garbage legislation in the Senate.
And yes, the Dem's have done a lousy job of informing American's about the tactics used by the GOP..

November 29, 2013 11:29 am at 11:29 am |

brown

Americans ... keep on re-electing your Congress.

One day, you'll wake up in the street.

November 29, 2013 11:30 am at 11:30 am |

s~

Wasn't Obama going to make things better for Americans?
He is helping the rich become richer. Just look at the stock market. The rest of us...not so much

November 29, 2013 11:32 am at 11:32 am |

Lou

Yes, because most old farts watch Fox Noise….pure and simple and they lap up that crap like crazy rabid dogs. I'm an old fart, but I check out a lot of indicators. My retirement fund has all but rebounded from 8 yrs. ago; we are hiring at my small business, etc. Could things be better? Of course! If the GOP would quit the pouting crap that is holding this nation back from all things great, we could kick butt again. We have done well in spite of them and they just HATE that. Young people get it. If we had taken up the infrastructure jobs bill, things would be even better. Vote out the obstructionists in 2014!

November 29, 2013 11:35 am at 11:35 am |

newshound

When the ACA corporate mandate kicks in, along with the small business mandate (which has just been put off until after the elections), you will see things really nosedive as the middle class goes bankrupt.

Stigmatize the rich, sounds socialist/communist. The rich are successful, not greedy. Let's make the pie bigger, not redistribute a smaller pie.

November 29, 2013 11:39 am at 11:39 am |

Bill from GA

For those using this article to preach hatred of Obama, you do remember that when he took office our economy was loosing over 800,000 jobs PER MONTH, the stock markets were at half their value of 8 years before, and the previous president (Bush II) had turned a surplus into a trillion dollar deficit?? Remember??

Remember how the republicans' only goal was to make President Obama a failure?? Republicans had no concern for our Country, only to make the policies of President Obama fail.

Notice how, in spite of the efforts of republicans, our economy has had positive job growth for years, stock markets are at record highs, oil and gas prices are down.

Oh, and Alan: "President Bush kept us safe for 8 years". Yeah, except for that nasty thingy known as "9/11". Forgot that already??

November 29, 2013 11:40 am at 11:40 am |

Gunderson

Old Gunderson no make the news. Those polls are real. Obama want share Wealth. How you like so far? Still sticking Head in Sand? When you put Liberal in Charge this result you get.

November 29, 2013 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

Ken

90 percent believe that congress, the senate, and the Obama admin are the most incompetent group of people to ever hold office.

November 29, 2013 11:43 am at 11:43 am |

herchato

The GOP are just doing a great job of blocking to make sure this economy stays bad. You have to tip your hat to them.

November 29, 2013 11:43 am at 11:43 am |

srcactus

So many shallow partisan remarks, so little grasp on economic reality. such a lack of introspection.
WE is dee problem!

November 29, 2013 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

Bill from GA

How many people responding in the poll are reflecting their own life as being not so well, or are just responding to the negative press?

Everyone I know who is looking for work has a job. My (meager) retirement fund has grown tremendously last year. Filling up the gas tank is a lot easier. The number of our troops fighting overseas is lower than anytime since Dubya's unnecessary war on Iraq. Inflation is miniscule. We don't have an idiot for a president.